The Boro transfer frenzy continued today after the club agreed a fee with Aston Villa for Dutch midfielder George Boateng.

The Holland international will cost Boro in the region of #4m, if he agrees personal terms with the club.

Talks were set to take place today and Boateng could be a Boro player by the morning and is likely to be Steve McClaren's final summer buy.

Should, as expected, Boateng sign on the dotted line, it will mean the Boro boss's summer spending spree has smashed the #20m barrier.

It will further boost the feelgood factor among the Boro faithful who are already reeling from the earlier capture of Massimo Maccarone (#8.15m) and Friday's news that Juninho (#6m) will return to the Riverside. French left-back Franck Queudrue (#2.5m) was the manager's other summer buy.

McClaren has been chasing the 26-year-old Boateng since the end of the season and had a previous offer turned down last month. But Villa have been forced to lower their #7m price tag after the player expressed in no uncertain terms his determination to leave.

Speaking after the game, Taylor said: "He knows I don't want him to go but he feels it's right for his career to take a fresh challenge."

Boateng pulled no punches in his assessment of his Villa status and, speaking on his own website, he said: "I want to make it clear that I am still desperate to leave Aston Villa. There is still a problem for me and I still want to leave.

"My interest in playing for the club has gone and I'm finding it hard to motivate myself any more. That's why I asked for a transfer."

However Boateng, who will link up with Geremi in the centre of the midfield for Boro, allowing Juninho to make his damaging runs into the opposing box, has kept in shape.

He said: "Training has been going very well and I've been working very hard.

"I want to keep myself as fit as possible.... if a team comes in for me today or tomorrow then I will be ready to depart."

The player could miss a portion of Boro's campaign after he was charged with misconduct by the FA after his boot-throwing antics in the league match with Leicester at Filbert Street at the end of last season.

Boateng was involved in a bust-up with Leicester striker Paul Dickov and, after losing his boot in a challenge, threw it in the direction of a stand packed with supporters.

It has emerged that referee Graham Poll reported the incident and now the FA have charged the player.

Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate continues to be linked with a move to Leeds following Rio Ferdinand's #30m transfer to Manchester United.

Leeds boss and former Boro coach Terry Venables was due to hand over his list of transfer targets today and that could include the Boro skipper.

However, there's little chance that Steve McClaren would sanction the sale of such an important player.

Boro will find out in the next couple of days whether their work permit application for Juninho will be accepted.

The 29-year-old has played in approximately 62 per cent of Brazil's "class A" fixtures, less than the 75pc required by the Department of Employment. However, he is expected to be awarded his permit following an appeal.